Beverage container insulating device

ABSTRACT

A beverage container insulating device includes an outer wall and at least one protrusion. The outer wall defines an internal cavity and an orifice that accesses the internal cavity. The at least one protrusion extends into the internal cavity from an internal surface of the outer wall. The protrusion is configured to engage a beverage container when inserted into the internal cavity via an interference-fit such that the protrusion deforms the beverage container and affixes the position of the beverage container within the internal cavity.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to insulating devices for beveragecontainers that are configured to store and dispense liquid beverages.

BACKGROUND

Heat transfer may occur between beverage containers, particularlyaluminum cans, and the ambient surroundings, resulting in a warm liquidbeverage temperature that may not be pleasing to the beverage consumer.An insulating device, such as a beer cozy or a beer jackets, may reduceheat transfer between the beverage container and the ambientsurroundings, resulting in a cooler beverage temperature that may bemore pleasing to the liquid beverage consumer.

SUMMARY

A beverage can insulating device includes a bottom wall, a side wall,and at least one protrusion. The side wall extends from the bottom wallsuch that the bottom wall and the side wall define an internal cavitythat is configured to receive a beverage can. The side wall defines anorifice that accesses the internal cavity on an opposing end of thebeverage can insulating device relative to the bottom wall. The at leastone protrusion extends into the internal cavity from an internal surfaceof the side wall. The at least one protrusion is configured to engagethe beverage can when inserted into the internal cavity via aninterference-fit such that the at least one protrusion deforms the canand affixes the position of the can within the internal cavity.

A beverage container insulating device includes a bottom wall, a sidewall, and at least one protrusion. The side wall extends about an outerperiphery of the bottom wall such that the bottom wall and the side walldefine an internal cavity that is configured to receive a beveragecontainer. The side wall defines an orifice that accesses the internalcavity on an opposing end of the beverage container insulating devicerelative to the bottom wall. The side wall has an inner diameter that issized such that there is clearance between an internal surface of theside wall and the beverage container when inserted into the internalcavity. The at least one protrusion extends into the internal cavityfrom the internal surface. The at least one protrusion is configured toengage the beverage container when inserted into the internal cavity viaan interference-fit such that the at least one protrusion deforms thebeverage container and affixes the position of the beverage containerwithin the internal cavity.

A beverage container insulating device includes an outer wall and atleast one protrusion. The outer wall defines an internal cavity and anorifice that accesses the internal cavity. The at least one protrusionextends into the internal cavity from an internal surface of the outerwall. The protrusion is configured to engage a beverage container wheninserted into the internal cavity via an interference-fit such that theprotrusion deforms the beverage container and affixes the position ofthe beverage container within the internal cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a beverage container insulating device;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the beverage container insulating device;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the beverage container insulating device;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGS. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2that illustrates an engagement between the beverage container insulatingdevice and a beverage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to beunderstood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examplesand other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. Thefigures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggeratedor minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. Asthose of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various featuresillustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures maybe combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures toproduce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described.The combinations of features illustrated provide representativeembodiments for typical applications. Various combinations andmodifications of the features consistent with the teachings of thisdisclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications orimplementations.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a beverage can insulating device or a beveragecontainer insulating device 10 is illustrated. The beverage containerinsulating device 10 includes a bottom wall 12 and a side wall 14. TheSide wall 14 extends upward from the bottom wall 12 such that the bottomwall 12 and the side wall 14 define an internal cavity 16 that isconfigured to receive a beverage container or beverage can. The sidewall 14 may extend about an outer periphery 18 of the bottom wall 12such that the bottom wall 12 and the side wall 14 define the internalcavity 16. The side wall 14 defines an orifice 20 that accesses theinternal cavity 16. The orifice 20 provides an entry way for a beveragecontainer or beverage can so that the beverage container or beverage canmay be inserted into the internal cavity 16. The bottom wall 14 may bedisposed along an end of the beverage container insulating device 10.The orifice 20 may be defined by the side wall 14 on an opposing end ofthe beverage container insulating device 10 relative to the bottom wall18.

The side wall 14 may have an inner diameter, that is sized such thatthere is clearance between an internal surface 22 of the side wall 14and a beverage container or beverage can when inserted into the internalcavity 16. Stated in other terms, there is a slip-fit engagement betweenthe internal surface 22 of the side wall 14 and the beverage containeror beverage can when the beverage container or beverage can is insertedinto the internal cavity 16. The inner diameter, may be sized fordifferent beverage container sizes. For example, the inner diameter, maybe sized to have slip-fit engagement for a standard 1.2 oz. aluminum canor may be sized to have slip-fit engagement for a slimmer than standardaluminum can, such as cans commonly used for energy drinks including RedBull.

Thee side wall 14 may also have an inner height, H_(in). The innerheight H_(in), may be sized to be slightly shorter than the beveragecontainer or beverage can being inserted into the cavity so that aconsumer may access an opening on the top of the beverage container orbeverage can for consumption of the liquid inside the beverage containeror beverage can without a resulting interference between the consumerand the beverage container insulating device 10. The inner height,H_(in), may also be sized for different beverage container sizes. Forexample, the inner height, H_(in), may be sized for a standard 12 oz.aluminum can or may be sized for a taller than standard aluminum can,such as a standard 16 oz. aluminum can, taking, into account that it isintended that an upper portion of the beverage container or beverage canprotrude out of the orifice 20 when the beverage container or beveragecan is inserted into the internal cavity 16 and affixed into place.

The side wall 14 and the bottom wall 12 may be collectively referred toas an outer wall that defines both the internal cavity 16 and theorifice 20. The side wall 14 and the bottom wall 12 may be single solidwalls or may be double walls. The double walls may be filled with air orsome other gas to reduce heat transfer between the beverage container orbeverage can that is inserted into the internal cavity 16 and theexternal environment. Alternatively, there may be a vacuum between thedouble walls to reduce heat transfer between the beverage container orbeverage can that is inserted into the internal cavity 16 and theexternal environment. There may be additional walls, ribs, or otherstructures (not shown) that extend between and/or are disposed betweenthe double walls to provide additional support and/or to ensure that aspace is maintained between the double walls to reduce heat transferbetween the beverage container or beverage can and the externalenvironment.

At least one protrusion 24 extends into the internal cavity 16 from theinternal surface 22 of the side wall 14. Each protrusion 24 may beformed as an indentation of the side wall 14 that extends from theinternal surface 22 and into the internal cavity 16. More specifically,each protrusion 24 may be formed as an indentation of the inner wall ofthe side wall 14 if the side wall 14 is a double wall. Alternatively,each protrusion 24 may be a separate component that is secured to theside wall 14. The at least one protrusion 24 is configured to engage thebeverage can or beverage container when the beverage container orbeverage can is inserted into the internal cavity 16 via aninterference-fit such that the at least one protrusion 24 deforms thebeverage container or beverage can and affixes the position of thebeverage container or beverage can within the internal cavity 16. Aninterference-fit between one of the protrusions 24 and the beveragecontainer or beverage can is present when the distance between such aprotrusion 24 and an opposing second protrusion 24 or an opposingportion of the internal surface 22 of the side wall 14 is smaller thanan outer diameter of the beverage container or beverage can. Also, aninterference-fit may be present if multiple protrusions 24 are utilizedand the multiple protrusions 24 form an inner diameter that is smallerthan the outer diameter of the beverage container or beverage can. Thebeverage container or beverage can may be deformed by the at least oneprotrusion 24, because the rigidity of the at least one protrusion 24 isgreater than the rigidity of the beverage container or beverage can.

The at least one protrusion 24 may include a plurality of protrusions24. The plurality of protrusions 24 may form a first horizontallyaligned row of protrusions 26. The plurality of protrusions 24 may forma first horizontally aligned row of protrusions 26. The plurality ofprotrusions 24 may form a second horizontally aligned row of protrusions28. The first horizontally aligned row of protrusions 26 and the secondhorizontally aligned row of protrusions 28 may form vertically alignedcolumns of protrusions 30. Alternatively, the first horizontally alignedrow of protrusions 26 and the second horizontally aligned row ofprotrusions 28 may be staggered such that the protrusions 24 of thefirst horizontally aligned row of protrusions 26 and the protrusions 24of the second horizontally aligned row of protrusions 28 do not formvertically aligned columns of protrusions 30.

The side wall 14 of the beverage container insulating device 10 has alength, L_(sw), that extends from the bottom wall 12 to the orifice 20.The first horizontally aligned row of protrusions 26 may be disposedalong the side wall 14 at a distance, D₁, from the bottom wall 12 thatranges between zero and ½ of the length of the side wall, L_(sw). Thesecond horizontally aligned row of protrusions 28 may be disposed alongthe side wall 14 at a distance, D₂. from the orifice 20 that rangesbetween zero and 1/2 of the length of the side wall, L_(sw). In analternative embodiment, the first horizontally aligned row ofprotrusions 26 may be disposed along the side wall 14 at a distance, D₁,from the bottom wall 12 that ranges between zero and ¼ of the length ofthe side wall, L_(sw), while, the second horizontally aligned row ofprotrusions 28 may be disposed along the side wall 14 at a distance, D₂,from the orifice 20 that ranges between zero and ¼ of the length of theside wall, L_(sw). Additional horizontally aligned rows of protrusionsmay be included that are disposed at any position along the length ofthe side wall, L_(sw), between the first horizontally aligned row ofprotrusions 26 and the second horizontally aligned row of protrusions28.

It should be noted that some embodiments may only include onehorizontally aligned row of protrusions, and that such a horizontallyaligned row of protrusions in embodiments that only include onehorizontally aligned row of protrusions may be located a position thatcorresponds to the location of the first horizontally aligned row ofprotrusions 26, the location of the second horizontally aligned row ofprotrusions 28, or at a location between the first horizontally alignedrow of protrusions 26 and the second horizontally aligned row ofprotrusions 28. It should also be understood that although eachhorizontally aligned row of protrusions is shown to include fourprotrusions, each horizontally aligned row of protrusions may includetwo or more protrusions 24. Other embodiments may only include oneprotrusion 24 in a respective row. Furthermore, it should also beunderstood that although each vertically aligned column 30 ofprotrusions is shown to include two protrusions 24, each verticallyaligned column of protrusions may include two or more protrusions 24.Other embodiments may only include one protrusion 24 in a respectivecolumn or may include any number of rows of protrusions 24 that areoffset such that the protrusions 24 are offset and do not form thevertically aligned columns of protrusions 30.

Each of the at least one protrusion 24 may have a first ramped surface32 that extends gradually away from the side wall 14 and into theinternal cavity 16 along a length, L_(p), of each of the at least oneprotrusion 24. The length, L_(p), of each of the at least one protrusion24 extends in an axial direction 34 of the beverage containerinsulating, device 10 away from the orifice 20 and toward the bottomwall 12. An angle, θ, between the first ramped surface 32 and the sidewall 14 of each of the at least one protrusion 24 may range between 5°and 45°. More specifically, the angle, θ, may be between the firstramped surface 32 and the internal surface 22 of the side wall 14, andthe first ramped surface 32 may gradually extend further into the cavity16 along a portion of the length, L_(p), in the axial direction 34 awayfrom the orifice 20 and toward the bottom wall 12.

Each of the at least one protrusion 24 has a second ramped surface 36that extends gradually away from the first ramped surface 32 and to theside wall 14 along the length, L_(p), of each of the at least oneprotrusion 24. An angle, ϕ, between the second ramped surface 36 and theside wall 14 of each of the at least one protrusion 24 may range between5° and 70°. More specifically, the angle, ϕ, may be between the secondramped surface 36 and the internal surface 22 of the side wall 14, andthe second ramped surface 36 may gradually extend from within the cavity16 (at a position that is away from the side wall 14) and to the sidewall 14 along a portion of the length, L_(p), in the axial direction 34away from the orifice 20 and toward the bottom wall 12,

Referring to FIG. 5, a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4in FIG. 2 depicting an engagement between the beverage containerinsulating device 10 and a beverage can or container 38, when thebeverage container 38 is inserted into the cavity 16 defined by thebeverage container insulating device 10, is illustrated. The side wall14 has an inner diameter, D_(in), that is sized such that there isclearance between an internal surface 22 of the side wall 14 and thebeverage container 38 when inserted into the internal cavity 16. Morespecifically, the beverage container 38 may have an outer diameter,D_(con_out), that is smaller than the inner diameter, D_(in), of theside wall 14. The clearance between the side wall 14 (or morespecifically the internal surface 22 of the side wall 14) and thebeverage container 38 may be observed by the spaces or gaps 40 that aredefined between the internal surface 22 of the side wall 14 and thebeverage container 38.

The at least one protrusion 24, however, engages the beverage container38 when the beverage container 38 is inserted into the internal cavity16 via an interference-fit such that the at least one protrusion 24forms dents or deformations 42 in the beverage container 38. Thedeformations 42 in the beverage container 38 may produce a spring-backforce that engages the at least one protrusion 24 to affix the positionof the beverage container 38 within the internal cavity 16. Theinterference-fit between one of the protrusions 24 and the beveragecontainer 38 is present when the distance, D_(pro), between such aprotrusion 24 and an opposing second protrusion 24 or an opposingportion of the internal surface 22 of the side wall 14 (in cases wherethere are no opposing protrusion 24 or if there is only one protrusion)is smaller than the outer diameter of the beverage container,D_(con_out). Also, the interference-fit is present if multipleprotrusions 24 are utilized and the multiple protrusions 24 form aninner diameter, D_(pro), that is equal to or smaller than the outerdiameter of the beverage container, D_(con_out). The beverage container38 may be deformed by the at least one protrusion 24, because therigidity of the at least one protrusion 24 is greater than the rigidityof the beverage container 38.

It should be understood that the designations of first, second, third,fourth, etc. for protrusions, rows of protrusions, columns ofprotrusions, ramped surfaces of the protrusions, or any other component,state, or condition described herein may be rearranged in the claims sothat they are in chronological order with respect to the claims.

The words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Aspreviously described, the features of various embodiments may becombined to form further embodiments that may not be explicitlydescribed or illustrated. While various embodiments could have beendescribed as providing advantages or being preferred over otherembodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or moredesired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognizethat one or more features or characteristics may be compromised toachieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specificapplication and implementation. As such, embodiments described as lessdesirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations withrespect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of thedisclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage can insulating device comprising: abottom wall; and a side wall extending from the bottom wall such thatthe bottom wall and the side wall define an internal cavity that isconfigured to receive a beverage can, the side wall defining an orificethat accesses the internal cavity on an opposing end of the beverage caninsulating device relative to the bottom wall; and at least oneprotrusion extending into the internal cavity from an internal surfaceof the side wall, wherein the at least one protrusion is configured toengage the beverage can when inserted into the internal cavity via aninterference-fit such that the at least one protrusion deforms thebeverage can and affixes the position of the beverage can within theinternal cavity.
 2. The beverage can insulating device of claim 1,wherein each of the at least one protrusion has a first ramped surfacethat extends gradually away from the side wall and into the internalcavity along a length of each of the at least one protrusion, the lengthof each of the at least one protrusion extending in an axial directionof the beverage can insulating device from the orifice to the bottomwall.
 3. The beverage can insulating device of claim 2, wherein each ofthe at least one protrusion has a second ramped surface that extendsgradually away from the first ramped surface and to the side wall alongthe length of each of the at least one protrusion.
 4. The beverage caninsulating device of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusionincludes a plurality of protrusions that forms a first horizontallyaligned row of protrusions.
 5. The beverage can insulating device ofclaim 4, wherein the side wall has a length that extends from the bottomwall to the orifice, and wherein the first horizontally aligned row ofprotrusions is disposed along the side wall at a distance from thebottom wall that ranges between zero and ½ of the length of the sidewall.
 6. The beverage can insulating device of claim 4, wherein sidewall has a length that extends from the bottom wall to the orifice, andwherein the first horizontally aligned row of protrusions is disposedalong, the side wall at a distance from the orifice that ranges betweenzero and ½ of the length of the side wall.
 7. The beverage caninsulating device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of protrusions formsa second horizontally aligned row of protrusions.
 8. The beverage caninsulating device of claim 7, wherein the first horizontally aligned rowof protrusions and the second horizontally aligned row of protrusionsform vertically aligned columns of protrusions.
 9. The beverage caninsulating device of claim 1, wherein the internal cavity is sized suchthat there is clearance between the internal surface of the side walland the beverage can when inserted into the internal cavity.
 10. Abeverage container insulating device comprising: a bottom wall; and aside wall extending about an outer periphery of the bottom wall suchthat the bottom wall and the side wall define an internal cavity that isconfigured to receive a beverage container, the side wall defining anorifice that accesses the internal cavity on an opposing end of thebeverage container insulating device relative to the bottom wall, theside wall having an inner diameter that is sized such that there isclearance between an internal surface of the side wall and the beveragecontainer when inserted into the internal cavity; and at least oneprotrusion extending into the internal cavity from the internal surface,wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to engage the beveragecontainer when inserted into the internal cavity via an interference-fitsuch that the at least one protrusion deforms the beverage container andaffixes the position of the beverage container within the internalcavity.
 11. The beverage container insulating device of claim 10,wherein each of the at least one protrusion has a first ramped surfacethat extends gradually away from the side wall and into the internalcavity along a length of each of the at least one protrusion, the lengthof each of the at least one protrusion extending in an axial directionof the beverage container insulating device from the orifice to thebottom wall.
 12. The beverage container insulating device of claim 11,wherein each of the at least one protrusion has a second ramped surfacethat extends gradually away from the first ramped surface and to theside wall along the length of each of the at least one protrusion. 13.The beverage container insulating device of claim 10, wherein the atleast one protrusion includes a plurality of protrusions that forms afirst horizontally aligned row of protrusions.
 14. The beveragecontainer insulating device of claim 13, wherein the side wall has alength that extends from the bottom wall to the orifice, and wherein thefirst horizontally aligned row of protrusions is disposed along the sidewall at a distance from the bottom wall that ranges between zero and ½of the length of the side wall.
 15. The beverage container insulatingdevice of claim 13, wherein side wall has a length that extends from thebottom wall to the orifice, and wherein the first horizontally alignedrow of protrusions is disposed along the side wall at a distance fromthe orifice that ranges between zero and ½ of the length of the sidewall.
 16. The beverage container insulating device of claim 13, whereinthe plurality of protrusions forms a second horizontally aligned row ofprotrusions.
 17. The beverage container insulating device of claim 16,wherein the first horizontally aligned row of protrusions and the secondhorizontally aligned row of protrusions form vertically aligned columnsof protrusions.
 18. A beverage container insulating device comprising:an outer wall defining an internal cavity and an orifice that accessesthe internal cavity; and at least one protrusion extending into theinternal cavity from an internal surface of the outer wall, wherein theat least one protrusion is configured to engage a beverage containerwhen inserted into the internal cavity via an interference-fit such thatthe at least one protrusion deforms the beverage container and affixesthe position of the beverage container within the internal cavity. 19.The beverage container insulating device of claim 18, wherein each ofthe at least one protrusion has a first ramped surface that extendsgradually away from the outer wall and into the internal cavity along alength of each of the at least one protrusion, the length of each of theat least one protrusion extending in an axial direction of the beveragecontainer insulating device away from the orifice.
 20. The beveragecontainer insulating device of claim 19, wherein each of the at leastone protrusion has a second ramped surface that extends gradually awayfrom the first ramped surface and to the outer wall along the length ofeach of the at least one protrusion.